Methods of making bags



May 11, 1965" A. D. HOEPPNER METHODS OF MAKING BAGS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Aug. 22, 1958 y 1965 A. D. HOEPPNER 3,182,430

METHODS OF MAKING BAGS Original Filed Aug. 22, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 y 1965 A. D. HOEPPNER 3,182,430

METHODS OF MAKING BAGS Original Filed Aug. 22, 1958' 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG, l4.

United States Patent Office BJdZAEd Patented May 111, 1965 3,182,430 METHQDS OF MAKING BAGS Arthur D. Hoeppner, Terre Haute, Ind, assignor to Bernis Bro. Bag Company, Minneapolis, Minn, a corporation of Missouri Original application Aug. 22, 1958, Ser. No. 756,633. Divided and this application Jan. 16, 3964, Ser. No.

14 (Iiaims. or. 53-29 This application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 756,633, filed August 22, 1958, entitled Bags, now abandoned.

In my United States Patent 2,709,467, issued May 31, 1955, there is shown a bag made of flexible heatsealable sheet plastic material, such as polyethylene, having a closure-fiap-forrning portion initially positioned exteriorly of one wall of the bag at the bag mouth adapted to be folded over the mouth of the bag after the bag has been packed to close the bag, and adapted to be opened by reversely folding it to bring it back to its initial position.

Among the several objects of this invention may be noted the provision of methods of economically manufacturing bags similar to those described in my said prior patent but which, after being packed, may be closed by an operation such as a heat-sealing operation, as distinguished from the closing operation involving folding required by my prior construction, the closure as com pleted by this heat-sealing operation being similar to that obtained by the folding operation for closing carried out on my prior bag. Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the methods hereinafter described, the scope of the invention being indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which several of various possible embodiments of the invention are illustrated,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a first method of this invention for making a first type of bag;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a bag of this invention made by the method illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross section taken on line 33 of FIG. 2, thicknesses being exaggerated;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the bag of FIGS. 2 and 3 after it has been packed and closed;

FIG. 5 is a cross section taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 3 illustrating a modification of the bag;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a second method of the invention for making a second type of bag;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a bag made by the method illustrated in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a cross section taken on line 9-9 of FIG. 8, thicknesses being exaggerated;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 5 illustrating the bag of FIGS. 8 and 9 as it appears after it has been packed and closed;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating another method of manufacturing bags of the type shown in FIGS. 2 and 3;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view illustrating a modification of the FIG. 11 method for manufacturing bags of the type shown in FIGS. 8 and 9;

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 3 illustrating a modification thereof; and,

FIG. 14-is a view similar to H6. 9 illustrating a modification thereof.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

' Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a first method of this invention for making bags from a continuous web 1 of flexible heat-sealable sheet plastic material such as polyethylene. As shown therein, this web is longitudinally folded to have a first wall 3 and a second wall 5 joined along one edge by an integral gusset 7. This folding is carried out by any suitable conventional folding means well known in the art while the web is fed in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 1. The wall 5 is wider than the wall 3 and has a free marginal portion 9 which projects out beyond the free edge 11 of the wall 3. In accordance with this invention, a strip 13 of flexible heat-sealable sheet plastic material such as polyethylene is drawn from a supply roll 15 and superimposed on the folded web 1 extending lengthwise thereof overlying the free edge 11 of the narrower wall 3 of the folded web, whereby part of the strip 13 laps the free margin of the wall 3 and part of the strip overlies part but not all of the free marginal portion 9 of the wider wall 5 of the web. This leaves part of portion 9 projecting laterally outward beyond the strip 13.

The folded web 1 with the strip 13 superimposed thereon is then heat-sealed and segmented on transverse lines at bag width intervals to divide it into individual bags B (one of which is illustrated in FIG. 2) having heatsealed seams at both sides. Each heat-sealed bag side seam is designated 19. Each line of segmentation, these lines being designated 21 in FIG. 1, lies between a side seam 19 of one bag and the side seam 19 of the next bag segmented from the folded web. The strip 13 is heat-sealed and segmented along with the folded Web, the ends of the strip segments being heat-sealed to the bag at the sides thereof by seals indicated at 19a which extend throughout the width of the strip segments on the same lines as seals 19.

As a result of the above-described operations, each bag B has a first wall 23 (which may be termed the front wall) derived from the wall 3 of the folded web 1, and a second wall 25 (which may be termed the back wall) derived from the wall 5 of the folded web. The front wall 23 and back wall 25 are joined at the bottom of the bag by a gusset 27 derived from the gusset 7 of the folded web 1, and are joined along the sides of the bag by the heat-sealed side seams 19. The back wall 25 is of greater height than the front wall 23, and projects beyond the upper or mouth edge of the front wall. The projecting portion of the back Wall 25 (derived from portion 9 of the folded web 1) is designated 29 and the mouth edge of the front wall 23 is designated 31. Each bag B also has a strip segment or band 33 (derived from strip 13) extending across the bag from one side edge to the other, overlying the mouth edge 31 of the front wall 23. The ends of band 33 are heat-sealed at 19a to the side edges of bag B, the band otherwise being free of the bag. Portion 29 of the back wall 25 projects beyond the upper edge of the band 33.

The bag B shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is adapted to be packed with an item such as indicated at 37 in FIG. 5 by inserting the item between the upper portion 29 of the back wall 25 and the band 33, and then between the upper portion of the front wall 23 and the back wall 25. The portion of the back wall which extends beyond the band is free to be gripped to facilitate opening up of the mouth of the bag for insertion of the item to be packed therein. The bag is adapted for being packed automatically or semiautomatically, utilizing a device having means for gripping the portion of the back wall 25 which projects beyond band 33, leaving the band and the front wall 23 free, the device also having means for blowing air under the band and between the front wall and the back wall for blowing the bag open. The arrangement is also and the band above this seal 39 being simultaneously trimmed olf so as to give a neat finished appearance to the package. The final package is then similar to a completed package comprising a bag shown in my prior Patent 2,709,467 in that the mouth of the bag is closed by a closure-fiap-forming portion (constituted by the band 33) which extends across the front of the bag having its ends heat sealed to the bag at the side edges thereof. This closure-flap-forming portion 33 is adapted to be folded back to open up the bag by inserting the fingers thereunder adjacent the sides of the bag, and turning it inside out.

FIG. 6 illustrates a modification of the bag shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, differing from the latter in having a flat.

ungusseted bottom as indicated at 41, instead of having a gusseted bottom as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Bags such as shown in FIG. 6 may be made in the same manner as shown-in FIG. 1, except that web 1 is folded in such manner that walls 3 and 5 are joined by a single fold instead of by the gusset 7.

FIG. 7 illustrates an alternative method in which the strip 13, instead of being superimposed on the folded web 1 overlying the edge 11 of the narrower wall 3, is

fed in between the walls 3 and the wall 5 underlying thev edge 11 of wall 3. Otherwise, the operations are the same as in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate a bag B1 made according to FIG. 7, and FIG. 10 illustrates a completed package comprising the bag B1. The bag B1 is similar to the bag B of FIGS. 2 and 3, and the completed package is similar to the package shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, except that the band, which is designated 33a in FIGS. 8-10 to distinguish it from the. band of FIGS. 2-5, lies betweenv the upper portion of the front wall 23 and the back wall 25. To open the package B1, the fingers are inserted between the upper portion of the front wall 23 and the band- 33a and then under the band to fold it back. 7

It will be understood that the bag B1 may be made-with an ungusseted bottom, as in the bag shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 11 shows another method of making the bags B, which does not require the feeding of the tape 13 as in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 11, a web 51 (wider than method is essentially the same as the FIG. 11 method except that the marginal portion 63 of the web 51, instead of being folded to overlap the free margin of wall53, is folded over to underlie the free margin of 'wall 53. Consequently, the strip 71a separated by blade 67 lies in the same position as occupied by the strip 13 in FIG. 7. The end result is a folded web like that shown in FIG. 7 with a strip between the walls, andthis is converted into bags B1 in the same manner as shown in FIG. 7. 1

FIG. 13 shows a modification of the bag B shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 in which-the width of band 33 is such that the band projects beyond the upper edge of the wall 25.. FIG. 14 shows a modification of the bag B1 shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 in which the band33aprojects beyond the upper edge of the wall 25. These types of construction may be desirable, for example,-in instances, where. it is desirable to hold the bag in a packing device by gripping the band rather than the wall .25. Theymay be made by methods similar to those illustrated in FIGS. 1, 7,11 and 12.

In yield of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained a 7 As various changes could be made in the above methods without departing from the scope of theinvention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above descriptionor shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limited sense.

What is claimed is:

1. The method of making bags comprising folding a continuous web of bag material'longitudinally to provide a first wall, and a second Wall with the second wall wider than the first wall, applying to the folded web a strip extending lengthwise of the web in positionlapping the free edge of the first wall, then segmenting the folded web with the strip thereon at bag Width intervals and sideseaming the segments, the strip being simultaneously segmented and having its ends secured to the segments at the side seams.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the strip is applied overlying the free edge of the first wall. I

3. The method of claim 1 wherein thestrip is applied between the walls.

4. The method of making bags comprising folding a continuous web of heat-sealable plastic longitudinally to provide a first wall and a second wall with the second wall wider than the first wall, applying to thefolded web. a

strip of heat-sealable plastic extending lengthwise of the the web 1) is used, and this web 51 is longitudinally Web in position lapping the free edge ofthe first wall, then ing its ends heat-sealed to the bags at their'side seams.

ing out beyond the free edge 61 of wall 53, and a marginal portion 63 of the web is folded over on a longitudinal fold line 65 to overlap the free margin of wall 53.

As the folded web 51 is fedforward, the folded-over V marginal portion 63'is slitas by a blade 67 along a line 5. The method of claim 4 wherein the strip is applied overlying the free edge of the first'wall.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the strip is applied between the'walls.

7. Themethod of making bagscomprising forming a continuous web of bag materialhaving superimposed first 1 and second'walls joined along one longitudinal edge of outward so that the wall has portion 73 projecting H out beyond the strip 71. The end result is a folded web like that shown in FIG. 1 with a strip superimposed thereon inthe same manner as in FIG. :1, and this is converted into bags B in the same manner asshown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 12 shows a method similar to the FIG. 11 method i for making bags B1 of FIGS. '8 and'9, which does not re-. quire the'feeding of tape 13 as in'FIG. 7. The FIG. 12

the Web and with the second wall wider than the first wall, applying to the. web a strip extending lengthwise of the web in position lapping the free edge of 'thefirst wall, then segmenting the web with the strip thereon at bag width intervals and side-seaming the segments, the strip being simultaneously segmented and having its ends secured to the segments at the side seams. r

8. The method of claim 7 whereinthe strip is applied overlying the free edge of the first wall.

' 9. The method of claim-7 wherein the strip is applied betweenthe walls. V

. 10. The method of making bags comprising forming a continuous web of heat-sealable plastic having superimposedfirst and second walls joinedalong one'longitudinal edge of the web and with the second wall wider than the first wall, applying to the web a strip of heat'sealable plastic extending lengthwise of the web in position lapping the free edge of the first wall, then simultaneously heatsealing and segmenting the web with the strip thereon on tranverse lines spaced at bag width intervals to form bags with heat-sealed side seams, the strip being simultaneously segmented and having its ends heat-sealed to the bags at their side seams.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the strip is applied overlying the free edge of the first wall.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the strip is applied between the Walls.

13. The method of forming and filling a bag which comprises feeding a relatively narrow strip in superposed relation to a simultaneously fed relatively wide strip, folding said wide strip along an edge parallel to said narrow strip with the folded portion of said Wide strip terminating intermediate said narrow strip, simultaneously severing and sealing the side edges of said bag, filling said bag and severing a portion of said bag and simultaneously sealing together the edges formed by said last named severing step following the filling of said bag.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13 wherein the first combined severing, and sealing step heat seals the side edges of said bag securing the side edges of said bag together and simultaneously securing the side edges of said relatively narrow strip thereto.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,643,049 9/53 Bartelt 93-35 X 2,873,566 2/59 Sylvester et al. 9335 X 2,929,180 3/60 Abrams et al. 53-29 FRANK E. BAILEY, Primary Examiner. 

13. THE METHOD OF FORMING AND FILLING A BAG WHICH COMPRISES FEEDING A RELATIVELY NARROW STRIP IN SUPERPOSED RELATION TO A SIMULTANEOUSLY FED RELATIVELY WIDE STRIP, FOLDING SAID WIDE STRIP ALONG AN EDGE PARALLEL TO SAID NARROW STRIP WITH THE FOLDED PORTION OF SAID WIDE STRIP TERMINATING INTERMEDIATE SAID NARROW STRIP, SIMULTANEOUSLY SEVERING AND SEALING THE SIDE EDGES OF SAID BAG, FILLING SAID BAG AND SEVERING A PORTION OF SAID BAG AND SIMULTANEOUSLY SEALING TOGETHER THE EDGES FORMED BY SAID LAST NAMED SEVERING STEP FOLLOWING THE FILLING OF SAID BAG. 